Conveying fluids containing solids



Sept. 28, 1943. G. J. LANGMYHR ETAL. I 2,330,781

CONVEYING FLUIDS CONTAINING SOLIDS Filed May 28, 1941 2 SheeIs-Sheet 1 FIG.

' 6 I BMJW Sept. 28, 1943. G. J. LANGMYHR ETAL CONVEYING FLUIDS CONTAINING SOLIDS Filed May 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rial from moving past Patented Sept. 28, 1943 George J. Langmyhr,

Langmyhr assignor ment Company, a corporation of Delaware;

to National Transit Pump &

orporation oi Pennsyl- Sharp assignor Machine Company, a c

Vania Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and Jefferson M. Sharp, Oil City, Pm; said to Standard Oil Developsaid Application May 28, 1941, Serial No. 395,560 Claims. (Cl. 103-204) This invention relates to pumps and more particularly relates to plunger pumps adapted for high pressure pumping and for pumping liquids containing abrasive materials in suspension.

Our invention is especially adapted for use in pumping clay-oil slurries or slurries of oil and other solid contacting or catalytic agents in the treatment or conversion of hydrocarbons. Our invention is also adapted for use for pumping mud-laden fluid used in connection with oil well drilling operations or the like.

In pumping liquids containing abrasive ma terials or the like it is known that in some cases the grit or abrasive material is carried into the packing for the plunger due to the movement of the plunger or fluid piston rod moving in the packing and this grit or abrasive material will remain in the packing to wear the plunger or rod; This wear is quite noticeable on rods or plungers in pumps for general service and, obviously, in pumping liquids containing a high percentage in abrasive materials such as clay or mud, the wear on the plunger or rod will be increased and result in excessive maintenance charges.

More specifically the invention includes a pump having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the chambers being in alignment but being of different diameters. Reciprocating in the chambers is a single plunger provided with portions of different diameters to cooperate with the pumping chambers whereby a positive synchronized pumping action is obtained. A packing is provided for the plunger and means are provided for preventing the abrasive materials from entering the packing material. The lower portion of the larger diameter of the plunger forms a secondary pump for placing oil or other liquid under pressure to prevent abrasive matethe plunger. Oil is introduced into the pump around the smaller portion of the plunger so that as the plunger moves down, thelarger portion on the plunger forces the oil or liquid into the smaller pumping chamber thus preventing abrasive materials from entering the oil chamber and getting into the gland packing during the suction stroke of the pump. The oil or liquid is forced out through an annular space formed between the smaller portion on the plunger and the pump housing. More specifically, a liner is provided for the plunger and this liner has tapering sides so as to increase the pressure on the oil as it is forced between the liner and the plunger.

- The oil or other liquid under pressure may be "sively reduced bore of the lower used for other purposes. For example a portion of the oil under pressure from the pump housing around the smaller portion of the plunger is used in part to lubricate the inlet valve of the pump. The oil under pressure may also be piped to a gland packing adjacent the larger portion of the plunger to supply positive lubrication between the upper portion of the plunger and the packing.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a vertical cross-section taken through the preferred form of our invention; L

Figure 2 represents a vertical cross-section taken along line II-II of Figure l and showing means for lubricating the inlet valve;

Figure 3 represents an enlarged detail showing in slightly exaggerated form the progresend of the liner for the pump housing; and

Figure 4 represents a vertical cross-section of another form of our invention.

Referring now to the drawings the reference character It! designates a pump housing having an inlet l2 and an outlet It. The pump is provided with a suction chamber l6 which is formed as a bore in lower section It of the pump. Positioned above the lower section or cylinder I8 is an upper section or cylinder 22 which is provided with a bore in alignment with the suction chamber IS in the lower section or cylinder l8. Extending through the bores in the cylinders l8 and 22 is a straight single plunger 24 which is preferably solid and which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The lower section or plunger cylinder I8 is provided in its upper face with a seat 25 into which fits the bottom portion 28 of a liner 30 having a portion 3| extending into the bore of the upper cylinder 22 and when cylinders l8 and 22 are bolted together the liner 30 is securely held in position as shown in Figure l. The lower portion of the upper cylinder 22 has a projection 32 which fits into a cut away portion 33 on the lower portion 28 of the liner 30. The lower face of the upper cylinder 22 is provided with a fiat annular portion 34 which rests on the flat annular portion 36 of the lower cylinder iii. The projection 32 on cylinder 22 extends below flat portion 34 and is positioned between bottom portion 28 of liner 3!! and the upper portion of the lower cylinder Id. The upper and lower cylinders l8 and 22 are preferably connected together in any suitable manner as by bolts or the like. Preferably, packing material is provided between the meeting faces of the upper and lower cylinfrom main pumping chamber I6 to the packing ders I and 22 as at 28. 4| and 42. 46. A portion of this oil or liquid under pres- As above stated. the liner 30 extends into the sure is withdrawn through a separate side line bore of the upper cylinder 22 and arranged above and used for other purposes. For example, a the portion 3| of the liner 30 is packing material passageway 86 is provided through liner 30 and 46 held securely'in place by a screw member 48. upper cylinder 22. The passageway 86 commu- Th pa kin stru tion c mpris s a packin nicates with a pipe 88 which is screwed into the gland. passageway. Secured to the pipe 88 is a check The one-piece plunger 24 is provided with a valve 92 which only opens outwardly and only P i n having a larger diameter as at 52, which 1 permits oil or liquid to pass in one direction. Oil normally reciprocates in the upper cylinder 22 under pressure is passed through the housing adjacent the portion 3| of liner 30 and the packof valve 92 and line 04 having a valve 95 and proing material 46. Intermediate its ends the vided at its lower portion with a jet 36 for squirtplunger is cut away as at '54 to provide a lower ing or spraying oil on the inlet valve I02 for the portion 56 on the plunger which has a smaller inlet I2 of main pumping chamber I6. The valve diameter. The cut away portion 54 immediately I02 in closed position rests on a valve seat I04. below the large diameter portion 52 forms a A member I06 extends over the valve I02 to pershouider which acts to pump oil or liquid from mit opening of the valve but to prevent displacethe space 56 between the smaller diameter porment of the valve I02. This member I06 is setion 66 on the plunger 24 and the liner 30 as cured toaplug member I00 in any suitable manwill be presently described. The larger plunger ner.

52 has a relatively tight fit with liner portion 3i An outlet check valve II2 for main pumping and so prevents any substantial leakage of oil chamber I6 is provided for the outlet I4 to per- D s Shoulder and 111m P g 46. The oil mit discharge of the slurry mixture from the or other liquid in space 55 forms an oil or liquid 2 slurry or pumping chamber I6. The outlet valve seal and also provides a lubricating medium for H2 is prevented from being displaced by a plug the pump. member II4 having an arcuate shaped guiding Attention is directed to Figure 3 which shows member II 6. In passing from the inlet to the in slightly exaggerated form the tapered bore pumping chamber I6 and from the pumping 56 on the lower portion 28 of the liner 30. The chamber I6 to the outlet I4 the pumped liquid smallest part of the tapered opening is at the passes through a connecting passage I I8. bottom and provides a space 62 through which Referring nowto the modification shown in i liquid is forced m the ce 55 ween Figure 4, the general construction is substantially the liner 30 and the smaller portion 56 of the I the same as that shown in Figure 1 and the same plunger 24 and in this way increased pressure reference characters have been used to designate is applied to the oil or liquid from space 55. the same parts shown in Figure 1. In this form The means for supplying oil or other liquid to of the invention means are provided for positive the space 55 will now be described. A container lubrication of the gland for the plunger and the 64 is provided having a pipe 66 through whichplunger is of a somewhat different construction.

this type is provided, it is necessary to have it at plunger in any suitable manner. The lower pora sufllcient height so that the suction head oi. tion of the ring I22 acts as the shoulder 54 in the oil chamber 55 is greater than the suction Figure 1 to force the oil or liquid from the space head of slurry chamber I6 thus preventing abra- 55 .between the plunger and the liner to prevent sive materials from passing into oil chamber- 55 abrasive material from entering the packing maduring the suction stroke of .the pump. In this terial. way a liquid seal is maintained during the com- The split ring construction is cheaper than plete cycle of operation. Instead of a gravity the construction shown in Figure l and in some feed a pump may be used. The oil or other liquid instances may be preferred for this reason. Inis passed through the valve housing I2 having a stead of a split ring, a threaded sleeve may be check valve I3 and through line 14 into the space screwed on to the plunger when the plunger 24 moves upwardly when A side stream is removed through line 86 comlooking at Figure 1. The check valve 13 permits municating with the space 55 between the flow only in the direction toward space 55. The 55 plunger and the liner 30' and a portion ofthis upward movement of the plunger 24 creates sucoil under pressure may be used to lubricate the tion and draws the oil or other liquid from valve inlet valve I02, or all or a portion of the oil unhousing I2 into the space 55. From the pipe I4, der pressure may be passed through line I34 the oil or other liquid passes through the passagehaving a valve I35 and through passageway I36 way I6 in the upper cylinder 22 and is introduced so in the upper cylinder 22 for introducing the oil into an annular space 16 formed in the lower porunder pressure into a lantern gland I38. The tion of the liner 30. Openings 02 connect the lantern gland is provided with an opening I42 annular space or groove 18 with the space 55 bewhich permits communication with the outer tween the plunger and the liner 30. annular space I44 and inner annular space I46.

When plunger 24 moves up on a suction stroke The lant liquid to be pumped is drawn into chamber I6 material I48 which surrounds the plunger 34 and then discharged when the plunger 24 moves and rests on the liner 39. down as will be hereinafter described in the oper- While our invention has been primarily deation of th device, scribed in connection with the pumping of Oil As above described, when the plunger 24 goes slurries containing clay or other abrasive matedownward, the shoulder 54 between the smaller rial, our apparatus may also be used for pumpand larger portions of the plunger 24 forces the ing corrosive liquids, for compounding, blendoil or liquid from'the space 55 downward past the ing or mixing oils, gasoline or the like, or in lower portion 56 of the plunger 24 and prevents other cases where it is essential to prevent solid grit 0r abrasive material from passing upward material from entering the packing and to pre- 24. As shown in Figure vent wearing of the rod or plunger. The appa ratus may be used in horizontal or vertical posltion. Furthermore, more. than one pumping unit may be arranged and combined to form a pump assembly. tons 52 and 50 may be varied. The operation of our pump when it is desired to pump a a cracking unit,'for example, reciprocated in the cylinders suitable manner. As the pl clay-oil slurry to the plunger 24' is ger moves upward, the pressure in the suction chamber I is lowcred and the clay-oil slurry goes past the open valve I02. and is drawn into the pumping chamber I8. when the plunger moves downward. the pressure closes the inlet valve I02 and opens outlet valve II2 to permit the plunger to force the clay-oil slurry through outlet I4 to the desired reaction chamber.

If no provision were made for preventing it, the clay would work its way back past liner 30 and into the packing material 46, and the clay particles would cause abrasion of the plunger 24, According to our invention, the lower portion 56 of the plunger 24 is of a smaller diameter and a shoulder 54 is provided between the two portions of the plunger, As the plunger moves upward, lubricating oil, or the like. is drawn into the space 55 between the smaller diameter piston 50 ofthe plunger 24 and the liner 30. As the plunger moves downward, the check valve I2 is closed to prevent flowing back of the oil through line I4 and the oil is forced downward between the lower portion 28 of the liner 30 and the smaller diameter portion 56 of the plunger 3, the lower portion 20 of the liner 30 is formed with a tapered opening 58 which is larger at its top than at its bottom so as to provide arelatively small outlet annular space 62 at the lower portion of the liner. In this way the oil from the space 55 is forced through the smaller opening 62 at'a greater velocity and this further helps in keeping abrasive material from working its way back to the packing.

As the piston rod 24 moves downward, the pressure on the oil in the space 55 is increased and a portion of this oil is taken through line 06 and outlet check valve 92 to lubricate the inlet valve I02. This is especially useful in cases where it is necessary to lubricate the valve and prevent corrosive liquids from attacking the valve.

In Figure 4 a portion of this side stream of oil taken through line 86 is used for lubricating the lantern gland I38 of the packing and in this way lubrication under pressure is provided for the upper portion of the plunger rod 24.

While we have shown the draw-off stream passing through line 86 in Figure 1 at some distance above the bottom of the liner 30, it is to be understood that the position of this draw-oil! line or passageway 86 may be varied. For example, if only a small amount of oil under pressure is desired for lubricating the valve I02. the passageway 86 is preferably raised to a point near the shoulder 54 at its highest point. That is, with the plunger rod 24 at its uppermost position, the passageway 86 would then be positioned slightly below the shoulder 54. If a larger pressure or more oil is desired for lubricating the valve I02, the passageway or draw-off line 86 is placed near the bottom of the liner 30 adjacent the annular space 18. In this way more oil will be supplied to' the inlet valve I02. This The diameters of the pis-' will now be given.

I0 and 22 in any;

latter positioning would be especially useful in a form of the invention such as shown in Figure Lwhere a portion of the oil under pressure from space" is desired for lubricating the inlet valve I02 and another portion is desired for lubricating the lantern gland I28.

While we have shown two forms of our invention, it is to be understood that this showing is by way of example only and that we are not to be restricted thereto as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A pump including an elongated cylinder provided with two sections of diflerent diameter, the smaller diameter cylinder section. forming a pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet, an elongated singleplunger having corresponding piston portions of different diameters and adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder, a liner for the larger diameter cylinder section, said liner being spaced from the smaller diameter piston portion during reciprocation of said plunger, means for supplying liquid to the space between said liner and said smaller diameter piston portion, said space communicating with said pumping chamber and means whereby liquid in said space is positively maintained both on the intake and discharge strokes at a pressure higher than that in the pumping chamber.

2. A pump including in combination an elongated cylinder having two sections of different diameters, an elongated single plunger adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder and having portions of different diameters to cooperate with said cylinder sections, the smaller diameter cylinder portion forming a pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said smaller diameter piston portion cooperating with said pumping chamber for pumping fluid, a liner for the larger diameter section oi. said cylinder and having an internal diameter about the same as the large diameter piston portion, said liner being spaced from said small diameter piston portion during a suction stroke of said plunger, means for supplying a liquid to said space between said liner and said smaller piston portion, one end of said liner being arranged intermediate the ends of said cylinder and having a tapered bore to leave a restricted opening around the smaller piston portion, whereby on a discharge stroke of said plunger the liquid in said space will be forced through said restricted opening around said smaller piston portion to prevent flow of pumped fluid from said pumping chamber in the opposite direction into said cylinder beyond said liner.

3. A pump including an elongated cylinder provided with two the smaller diameter cylinder section forming a pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet, an elongated single plunger adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder and having an abutment intermediate its ends to form a smaller piston portion at one end, said smaller piston portion being spaced from the larger diameter cylinder section, means for supplying liquid to said space, said space at one end having a restricted portion for communicating with said pumping chamber, said abutment forcing the liquid from said space through said restricted opening into said pumping chamber when said plunger moves on a discharge stroke, said means for supplying liquid to said space being so constructed that the suction head of the liquid in said space is greater than the suction head of said pumping chamber.

sections of different diameter,

4. A pump including an elongated cylinder thesmaller diameter cylinder section forming a provided with two sections or diii'erent diameter, pumping chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the smaller diameter cylinder section forming a an elongated single plunger adapted-to recipropumping chamber, an elongated single plunger cate in said cylinder and having an abutment adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder and hav- 5 intermediate its ends to form a smaller piston ing an abutment intermediate its ends to iorm a portion, means for supplying liquid to the space smaller piston portion at its lower end for recipbetween the larger diameter cylinder section and rocation in said pumping chamber, packing for the smaller diameter piston portion, means said plunger at the opposite end of said cylinder, whereby liquid supplied to said space is positively inlet and outlet valves associated with said pump- 10 maintained both on the intake and discharge in; chamber, said cylinder being spaced from 7 strokes at a pressure higher than that in the said smaller piston portion. means for supplying pumping chamber, a tapered cylinder portion at liquid to said space between said cylinder and the Junction of said difierent cylinder diameters smaller piston portion during a suction stroke, and spaced slightly from said small r diameter means whereby the liquid is forced i'rom said 15 piston portion for increasing the velcity oi the space during a discharge stroke of said plunger, liquid as it is forced from said spac into said .and means communicating with said space i'or I pumping chamber during the reciprocation oithe jetting liquid under pressure to said inlet valve. plunger.

5. A pump including an elongated cylinder I GEORGE J. LANGMYHR. provided with two sections of diiierent diameter,- 20 JEFFERSON M. SHARP. 

